It emerged that the 69-year-old had quit the baking competition the day after the 'bin-gate' episode had aired, which saw contestant Iain Watters leave the show after he dumped his Baked Alaska in the bin when it failed to set.

Diana said she had been 'stitched up' after it was made out that she had deliberately sabotaged Iain's chances by leaving his dessert out of the freezer.

Now Diana has explained that she couldn't continue in the competition - which was filmed in the Spring - after a freak fall during supper with the other contestants just before production of the next episode was due to start filming.

Diana severed her olfactory nerve, which left her with no sense of taste or smell, after fainting during the meal.

Diana Beard

The pensioner, who lives near Whitchurch in Shropshire, said: "I fainted - which I have never done - and bashed my head, severing my olfactory nerve.

"So I have now lost my sense of smell and most of my taste."

She added that she has some sensation of foods which are very salty or vinegary, but has been told by a specialist that nothing medically can be done to repair the damage and she may never fully recover her senses.